BCU 4 Star Freestyle

FlowFree are one of the leading providers of freestyle coaching in the UK – we were even part of the expert panel within the BCU that created these awards, so there’s no-one better to take you through these awards.

The BCU 4 star freestyle can be seen as a good intermediate level focusing on moves such as cartwheels, loops and blunts which lay the foundations on which all of the more advanced moves of freestyle built.

The moves covered by 4 star freestyle include:

cartwheels (3 consecutive ends)

splitwheels

loops

front and back surfing / carving

blunts

You will also be asked to complete a “routine” in which you plan and execute one run which includes 4 moves of your choice within 45 seconds. The requirements of each move are generally more relaxed that those expected at competition, and as always you’ll be assessed on your all-round performance rather than strictly looking at the angles your boat go through!

Our training courses are among the best: who better to prepare you for the assessment than a former European Freestyle Champion or one of the current National Trainers for freestyle? We will look at what you are currently doing with regards to the syllabus, and beyond, and give you tasks, challenges and things to think about in order to take you to the next level. You will leave with a clear action plan towards assessment, or to help you progress even further should you already be close to the required standard for 4 star.

The assessment will take place in a friendly “park and play” venue with eddylines, a surf wave and hole suitable for doing vertical moves and on maximum grade 3. If a venue doesn’t have both a suitable wave and a suitable hole, then two or more playspot venues can be used over the two days of a training or assessment course. Venues could include Mile End Mill on the Dee, HPP, Hurley, Tryweryn, Lee Valley Legacy course and Cardiff.

This award is a “leadership” award, which means that upon passing you’ll be qualified to take a group of paddlers to a “park and play” spot which can be within a section of up to grade 3 and up to 500 metres long. Therefore the assessment will also look at your group skills, safety awareness and rescue skills. For example, you could be presented with a first aid scenario at a weir where your car is not parked directly along-side. This doesn’t mean you’re expected to paddle your playboat with a throwline and first aid kit in it for the whole session; but in some venues you’d want to have them with you so that they can be put on the side beside the wave or hole on which you’re playing for quick access when needed.

Training dates:

Assessment (2 days): £165
Contact us for further dates.

Paypal payment option will be here soon. We’ve been too busy on the river, sorry! For now, please drop us an email for more info or complete the online booking form to get booked on.

Lowri wrote an article for Canoe & Kayak UK Magazine in October 2012 explaining the new freestyle star awards. Click here to have a read.

Lowri has given me the confidence to surf a wave! Before I went on a course with flow free I would sit in the eddy by a wave wanting to go in but thinking I better not! Lowri’s calm and patient manner has enabled me to have the confidence to not only get onto a wave but also to be able to manoeuvre around the feature. I cannot wait for future course to develop my freestyle skills. Thank you Lowri.read more

Had a superb day yet again with Lowri getting some much needed freestyle coaching at HPP. Her easy going but professional style really suited my needs and we achieved all of the goals I asked of her. Before long I was looking and cartwheeling away, as well as retaining better in the feature going where I wanted not where to water wanted me. We are doing another day again soon and quite frankly I can't wait.read more

I took a 2 day kayaking course with Lowri on the Dee last summer - it was perfect for me!
As a nervous beginning kayaker it was important for me to gain more confidence with a pro and friendly coach. She was that and more!
She was encouraging and friendly, adapted herself to my pace perfectly, and was very attentive to my needs. She made me feel safe and taught me a lot at the same time.
I finished the course feeling that I'm not the same paddler that I was before.
I had a lot of fun and keen for more!
BIG hearty recommendation!read more

Lowri has been involved in our paddling from day one ,we have been on safety courses to star awards and she taught us to surf for the first time.She has developed our paddling skills and knows when to move on and when to consolidate,look forward to next coaching session, thanks Lowri,Josh and Wayneread more

Excellent coaching and courses. We’ve done a number of freestyle courses including abroad with FlowFree. Laid back chilled out coaching style, Lowri never makes you feel pressured, but breaks everything down into ways that allows you to understand complex movements in an easy to understand way. Highly recommended!read more

I've chosen Lowri at Flowfree for a number of sessions from WW Kayaking on the Conwy to working on my freestyle; Lowri really knows her stuff and has boosted my confidence on the water. Highly recommend her!read more

Lowri and Chris Brain ran a White Water Safety and Rescue weekend on the Tees for members our club. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed the weekend and learned a great deal.
Their experience was absolutely invaluable in finding water at the appropriate level.
Thanks a lot!read more

Did a freestyle development day with Lowri last year, the structure and pace of the day was great and everyone made significant improvement over the day. I certainly improved my confidence in the feature and learned more about reading what the wave or eddy line is doing. Managed some 'clean' flat spins in the hole and started being able to link ends to get the basis for cartwheeling. Will be on another day in a few weeks and hopefully pick up where we left off.
Lowri is very chilled out and fun to spend the day with, you will come away feeling relaxed, knackered and happy, I guarantee it...!read more

Lowri has such a calming influence you could not help but feel safe with her coaching skills. A full weekend of white water river guidance also where Lowri could observe us and get an idea of what we needed as a group of 4 ladies. Saturday on the Dee, from Horseshoe weir down to Mile End Mill was a good trip to get some confidence with techniques shown and discussed by Lowri. On Sunday we moved to the Tryweryn and spent time understanding how eddies help to slow down a river descent and using waves to move across the river and believing in the flow all of these experiences of the weekend helped me move forward with my own challenges with white water. The group was excellent I felt safe and confident that Lowri was not pushing us beyond our limits.It was a great experience I can not recommend highly enough. Many thanks.read more

We had 2 brilliant days coached by Lowry. She worked magic with all of us to build our confidence. Before we met up my stomach was in knots just by thinking about white water, by the end of the 2 days I was doing parts of the upper T. I have learnt a lot from her which I am still using to this day! I never felt pressured or rushed to do any of the features! We discussed everything in great detail. I can't say thank you enough to her and the ladies in my group to have experienced such a great weekend!!!read more

Lowri gave me a lot of confidence and helped me find my paddling friends / community. I was extremely nervous first time I had a lesson but Lowri is great fun to be paddling with, super chilled yet a great coach. Always pushes you to that point just out of your comfort zone and therefore makes you achieve stuff you didn't think you would have managed, therefore coming away really happy and accomplished. The biggest selling point is ultimately I've had a few lessons with Lowri so I've put my money where my mouth is and will continue to do so in future. As previously said, shes super chilled and good fun to be out with, she's now not just a coach or a face from a website like at the start of my paddling journey, but now also a mate which says a lot. Massive thumbs up �read more

I did my 4* WW training with Lowri in 2016, and Have done various WWSR and freestyle Courses with her over the years. These Courses are well run, tailored appropriatley to individual needs/ wants and excellent fun as well (the main thing). Id book any WW or Freestyle course with Lowri without hesitation!read more

Have just spent two fantastic days in Llangollen with Lowri exploring some basic freestyle skills on both flat and moving water. After a 15 year break from the sport my confidence was low and Lowri quickly put me at ease, knowing exactly when to give me a little push to explore my limits. I've come away with a range of things to work on and the confidence to take my paddling to the next level.read more

Kayaking most of my adult life. Turns out some technical instruction in freestyle discipline (that was exceptionally well delivered) is something I should have done a long time ago. Big thumbs up to Lowri Davies and flowfree Kayaking! Many thanks big step forward for me �.read more

We had a small group on a coach training day aimed to help us deliver basic freestyle skills to others. Lowri explained a few skills and how to break them down and kitted us out with some handy top tips and community info that should see our club sessions improving massively..... Thanks, highly rated if you looking to coach freestyle.read more

I'm leaving this comment on behalf of a small group of 'Slightly White Water' kayakers. Lowri ran a Confidence Booster 2 day course for us. ABSOLUTELY was way more than that! We learned so much about river running,safety, tactics, river reading, hydrology, leading and importantly about ourselves. My face aches from smiling and laughing. I for one, cannot wait to book another course and 100%, I know the rest of the group would agree.read more

I've just finished a weekend of Freestyle action with Lowri at Hpp. Lowri is a fantastic coach I've come away with 3 new moves to add to my collection. And lots of other things to keep trying and working on. I would definitely recommend flowfree if you are considering any coaching.read more

We've just had a great weekend on FlowFree's white water safety and rescue course. It was a very relaxed but informative weekend. The course is flexible to the group depending on your experience and prior knowledge.
Looking forward to booking up the next one.read more